Self-standing walking stick with light

ABSTRACT

A self-standing walking stick includes a base and a hollow tube or pole extending upwardly from the base. The pole may be detachably coupled to the base. A light is provided in the base, with a switch in the pole to control turning the light on or off. A battery is electrically coupled to the light and the switch to provide power to the light.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common for people to get up at night for various reasons, such asto check on a child, to use the restroom, or go to the kitchen. In suchinstances, light is needed for safe walking. However, often times it isundesirable to turn on ceiling lights, table lamps, or other relativelybright lights which may wake someone else in the room, or be too glaringfor the person who is getting up. Normally, only a small amount of lightis needed for safe movement from one room to another.

Canes and walking sticks having various features are well-known,including lighted canes and walking sticks. However, canes and sticksnormally are not self-standing or supporting, but rather must be leanedagainst a wall, laid on the ground, or placed in a container. Also, theprior art lighted canes generally have a light bulb spaced above theground in the upright pole or body of the cane, thus failing to directlight efficiently along the ground for a person using the cane.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is theprovision of a self-supported, lighted walking stick or cane to providea low level light for safe walking in a dark room.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of animproved walking stick or cane having a light in the base in closeproximity to the floor.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of alighted walking stick or cane having a broad base so that the stick orcane will stand upright while unattended.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of acane or walking stick having a detachable base.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of alighted cane or walking stick having a handle or pole which is segmentedfor breakdown into short sections.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of aself-standing, lighted walking stick which is economical to manufacture,durable in use, and provides for safe walking in a darkened environment.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the followingdescription of the invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A self-standing, lighted walking stick is provided with a base and ahollow tube extending upwardly from the base. A light is provided in thebase adjacent the floor, and is electrically connected to a switch inthe pole for activation by a user. The light is battery powered. Thebase has a flat bottom surface with an area substantially greater thanthe diameter of the pole, such that the pole will remain upright whilethe walking stick is unattended. The pole may be detachably coupled tothe base for shipping, transportation, or storage. The pole may also becomprised of multiple sections which can be quickly and easilyassembled. The multiple sections of the pole may be telescoping,collapsible, foldable, threadably coupled, or otherwise breakdown forcompactness. The base may have various ornamental designs, such as afoot, a ball, a star, or an animal shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the self-standing lighted walking stickof the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the walking stick.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the walking stick.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the walking stick.

FIGS. 5-8 are side elevation views showing various embodiments forcoupling the pole to the base of the walking stick.

FIGS. 9-13 are views showing alternative embodiments of the base.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The walking stick of the present invention is generally designated bythe reference numeral 10 in the drawings. The walking stick 10 includesa base 12 and an upright hollow pole or tube 14. The pole or tube 14 maybe fixed to the base 12, or detachably coupled thereto, as describedbelow. The base has a flat bottom with a sufficiently large area,greater than the diameter of the pole 14, so that the stick 10 isself-standing. The base 12 also includes a light source 16, such as asmall bulb, which is at least partially recessed in the base. A switch18 is provided for activating the light source 16. Preferably, theswitch 18 is on the top of the pole 14. It is understood that the switch18 may also be located on the base 12, or at a different location on thepole 14. The switch 18 may be any type of switch, such as a push buttonswitch, a slide switch, or a toggle switch. When the switch 18 islocated on the pole 14, the switch can be turned on and off by a user'shand. When the switch 18 is mounted on the base 12, the switch can beoperated with a user's foot. It is understood that the upper end of thepole 14 may include a handle of various shapes, for comfort andaesthetics.

A battery 20 provides power to the light source 16. Preferably, thebattery 20 is mounted in the base 12. An access door (not shown) may beprovided on the top or the bottom of the base 12 so that the battery 20can be changed. The battery 20 is electrically connected via wires 22 tothe light source 16 and the switch 18. The battery 20 may be anyconventional type of battery, and may be disposable or rechargeable.

Preferably, the pole 14 is detachably coupled to the base 12. Variousmethods of coupling the base 12 and pole 14 are shown in FIGS. 5-8. Moreparticularly, in FIG. 5, the base 12 includes a stud 24 over which thehollow lower end 26 of the pole 14 matingly fits. The stud 24 and thelower end 26 of the pole 14 may include threads 28. Alternatively, thestud 24 may be recessed into a cavity 30 in the top of the base 12, asshown in FIG. 6. In both FIGS. 5 and 6, the threads 28 are optional, butprovide a more secure coupling, as compared to a press fit couplingwithout threads.

FIG. 7 shows another coupling technique, wherein the lower end 26 of thepole includes external threads 20 for threaded receipt into a cavity 32in the upper surface of the base 12. Again, the threads 28 may bedeleted in the cavity 32 and on the lower end 26 of the pole 14, whichwould simply press or friction fit together.

FIG. 8 shows a friction fit coupling between the lower end 26 of thepole and the cavity 30 in the base, with electrical contacts 34completing the electrical circuitry between the light source 16, theswitch 18 and the battery 20.

FIGS. 9-13 show various designs or configurations for the base 12.

In FIG. 1, the base 12 is shown to be in the shape of a foot. In FIG. 9,the base 12A is shown to be in the shape of a star. In FIG. 10, the base12B is shown to be in the shape of a ball, such as a baseball. In FIG.11, the base 12C is shown to be in the shape of a football. In FIG. 12,the base 12D is a hemisphere, thus depicting an object such as the sunor the moon. In FIG. 13, the base 12E is in the shape of a fish. It isunderstood that the base may take any other desired shape, includinganimals, geometric shapes, logos (such as a school mascot), and thelike.

Preferably, the base 12 and pole 14 of the walking stick 10 are made oflightweight materials. For example, the base may be made of foam and thepole may be made of PVC plastic material. The recesses 30, 32 mayinclude a plastic or metal liner for rigidity and durability.

FIG. 9 also shows an alternative pole with segments 14A, 14B, and 14C.The segments may be disassembled for shipping, storage ortransportation. The segments 14A-14C may be connected in any convenientmanner, such as threads, male and female couplers, detents, and thelike. The segments 14A-14C may be telescoping, collapsible, foldable, orotherwise quickly and easily assembled and disassembled, as needed.

In use, the walking stick 10 stands next to a bed, chair, or otherlocation where a user may need it in the night. The walking stick 10 isself-standing due to the large area of the base 12. The pole or handle14 can be easily grasped by a person getting out of bed or getting upfrom a chair. Light is directed toward the floor and walking path by thelight source 16, which has low wattage, to prevent excessiveillumination of the room or hallway where the person is walking. Also,the position of the light source 16 close to the floor minimizes straylight projecting upwardly. The walking stick 10 can also be used whenthe person is walking from room to room in the event of a power outage.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferredembodiments, and it is understood that many modifications,substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intendedspirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seenthat the present invention accomplishes at least all of its statedobjectives.

1. A self-standing, lighted walking stick, comprising: a base; a hollowtube extending upwardly from the base and having opposite upper andlower ends; a light in the base; a switch on the tube and electricallycoupled to the light to turn the light on and off; a battery in the baseelectrically coupled to the light and the switch; and the base having aflat bottom surface with an area greater than the diameter of the poleand sufficiently large such that the tube will remain upright while thewalking stick is unattended.
 2. The walking stick of claim 1 wherein thepole and base are detachably connected together.
 3. The walking stick ofclaim 2 wherein the pole is threadably coupled to the base.
 4. Thewalking stick of claim 2 wherein the base has an upper surface with arecess for receiving the lower end of the pole.
 5. The walking stick ofclaim 2 wherein the base and lower end of the pole have matingelectrical contacts to provide electrical communication between theswitch and the light.
 6. The walking stick of claim 1 wherein the polehas multiple sections.
 7. The walking stick of claim 6 wherein thesections are telescoping.
 8. The walking stick of claim 6 wherein thesections are collapsible.
 9. The walking stick of claim 6 wherein thesections are foldable.
 10. The walking stick of claim 1 wherein the basehas a shape selected from a group comprising a foot, a ball, a star andan animal.
 11. A self-standing, lighted walking stick, comprising: abase having a light recessed at least partially therein; an upright poledetachably mounted to the base; a switch to turn the light on and off;the base having a horizontal bottom surface to engage a floor and tomaintain the pole in a substantially vertical orientation.
 12. Thewalking stick of claim 11 further comprising a coupling to detachablyconnect the base and pole together.
 13. The walking stick of claim 12wherein the coupling includes threads.
 14. The walking stick of claim 12wherein the coupling is friction fit.
 15. The walking stick of claim 12wherein the coupling includes a stud.
 16. The walking stick of claim 12wherein the coupling includes electrical connections for the light andswitch.
 17. The walking stick of claim 11 further comprising a batteryin the base to provide power to the light.
 18. The walking stick ofclaim 11 wherein the pole is hollow, and the switch is adjacent an upperend of the pole, with electrical wires extending from the switch andthrough the pole.
 19. The walking stick of claim 11 wherein the pole hasmultiple sections.
 20. The walking stick of claim 11 wherein the baseincludes a cavity for housing a battery.